The Green Stuff

Plants started going in this morning. Whooo!

View from the front door

We got really lucky. 

 View to the left…

The landscape guy had a one week window, beginning today, before he started a big 3-week job. Otherwise, we’d be sitting here looking at dirt for awhile.

 …and to the right.

This is about the halfway point. 

 Big dirt patch on the left is where the sod will go.

The remaining sprinklers and the sod go in tomorrow, along with a couple of plants they couldn’t get to today. 

We’re planning to add a tree or two, 

plus more plants to fill in a bit, once the budget recovers. It’s been awhile since we put in a tree - they are expensive!

 Ground cover also goes in tomorrow in front of the wall

Last Bits

Looks like we’re done! 

It was a full day of bits and pieces but by 4 pm the crew was loaded up and pulling away. 

Owl Bob’s perch is cemented. It’ll need to cure for another day or so before we put anything on it. 

They cut the sidewalk by the back gate to install the last drain pipe, 

then patched it back up. 

The low voltage lights work 

although the app that runs them is a royal PITA.

The left over rocks, pebbles and gravel are ready for the landscape guy. 

Should have a bid tomorrow and if it looks good, they could start planting on Monday. 

Crossing fingers!

Penultimate Construction?

The lead construction guy told us this morning that they should be completely finished tomorrow (Tuesday). Coco and I had the same reaction - say, what??

I think I knew (and had forgotten) that the rest of the work - sprinklers, grass, plants, etc - is done by a different contractor… who is coming tomorrow to give us a plan and a bid. 

The original guys got a lot done today - 

built a river ⬆️

and a platform for Owl Bob

(yep, he’s a literary eagle…),

using up most of the remaining pavers and about half the big rocks. 

Another reason we really like this crew: This morning hubby mentioned he was going to move Owl Bob’s bench back where it was before the demo, 

so the guys cut and fitted more of the slate into a semicircle the perfect size to hold the bench. It looks awesome!

Won’t miss this last trash pile!

Owl Bob and friends

Friday Views

 Friday afternoon views -

front porch stones are in place and cemented down, 

and the under-step lights are installed (blue tape under the curve).

Border stones on all the pathways are locked in place but the lighter cobbles still need cementing. 

Electrical transformer is installed so the low-voltage lights all work now - and there’s an app for that. (Of course there is…)

The largest section of dirt has been cleaned up and partially leveled. Looking forward to seeing what ideas the landscape guy has for the various spaces. 

Progress

Lots of progress today on the walkways 

Looking from driveway across front of house

and front wall. 

Highlight of the day was the extended and rounded front porch edge, 

along with the start of pavers for the floor. 

A lot of the edging pavers still need to be placed 

 Street view toward front door

but I’m hoping they can mortar everything before the weekend. 

 Fancy corner

Fingers crossed. 

 View from porch to street

 View from the side street

Stone Diamonds

One light fixture is installed (two to go),

cement is between the stones (they used a giant pastry bag to squeeze it into the joins),

we have a mystery trench (for a wall? electrical? It’s a surprise! 😜)

and best of all, 

Look at all those angled cuts and how well it all fits together!

there are diamonds and curves where the walkways meet. 

Still a bit more to do 

but we think they may be able to mortar? cement? the cobblestones in place before the weekend. 

Another Star

Decided I kinda liked this after all (translation: I didn’t find a fabric combo I liked better and I didn’t want to remake the quarter I’d already done…) so I have a spare block if I miss a month during vacation or the holidays. Or I’ll make a bigger quilt and use them all. Possibilities! 

We went out to get pictures at noon 

 Noon

and again after the crew left for the day. 

 Late afternoon 

I think I’ve already mentioned how fast they work. 

 Noon

It’s crazy how much they got done, 

 

and it was a smaller crew today!

Top left: at noon. Right & bottom: back side finished, cap stones placed and trimmed, lights installed.

At noon:

 The cobblestones to fill in the ‘v’ will be individually sized and cut

Late afternoon: